Receptacle closure



July 28, 1925. 1,547,472

' I P. VANDIVER ET AL RECEP'I'ACLE CLOSURE Original Filed April 13 1923 W @562 QQWZ/ A /i/g Patented July 28, 1925.

UNITED ST TES PATENT orgies.

rAUL

nnonrrncrn cLosURE;

VANDIVER, or CHICAGO, AND osEPH w. mass, or MELaosE" PARK, iLmnors, ASSIGNORS TO SOLAR-STURGES MFG. 00., A conroaarron OF'ILLINOIS.

Application fil'ed April 13, 1923, Serial -No .631,763.-- Renewed November 17, .1924. Y I

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, .PAUL-VANDIVER and Josnrrr W. Hnss, citizens, respectively, of the vUnited States and the Republic of Poland, residing, respectively, atChicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, and at Melrose Park, in the-county of Cook and State of Illinois, have jointly invented certain new and useful. Improvements in Receptacle Closures, of which the following is a specification; X .1 Z

'This invention relates 'to =acnewand improved receptacle closure'wand *mor'ez specifically to a closure for "receptacles; .which closure is adapted to be readily displaced to clear the opening and to automatically returntoclose theopening;

Receptacles of I this character are parti cularly adapted-for use to receive garbage, pa-

per, waste or other material 'of this character. L An automatic closure is desirablein orderthat the receptacle may be closed at all times to prevent displacement of the material, to cover its unsightly appearance, and toprevent access by flies orthe like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a universally movable closure for receptacles, adapted to be readily displaced and to automatically return totheclosed position.

It is a further object to provide a device of this character in which the displacement may be in any direction with equal facility.

It is an additional object to provide a construction composed of but fewand simple parts adapted for inexpensive commercial production and adapted for association with existing receptacles without modification thereof.

We have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation showing the 010- sure assembly applied to a receptacle:

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the closure assembly in the upper portionof a receptacle with the closure in normal position;

and v Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but

showing the closure in a displaced position.

The receptacle 5 is shown as a usual type of cylindrical can or drum for receiving material of any kind. The supporting member 6 which is placed upon the upper end of the'receptacle-is provided'with the-outwardly and downwardly extending apron '7 and the cylindrical or tubular sleeve 8, Which fits down within; the upper endojf the receptacle; 'It, will be observed that the underside of the skirt. 7 rests upon the iupper edge ,of the receptacle and maintains the closuregas sembly in position-on, the receptacle.. ;;'lhe t:

spider 9 is connected toathe inneresidelof the tubular portion 8 and is provided-with a centralv portion 1 0 having a yerticalopeni gat inwwh h pen ng e iresa he Screw .12. inf 13 1: in;

H'Ihe pivot member- ,1 -hiL 1t$ lower end res ing upon th po tion? e10. and-wits inne surface is threaded. torreceive the 'screwql'l which secures it, rigidly in -place; upon the spider. Theclosure.unember, li is conical n pe e dds p rided mi -uppe g with an .inturned flange 14 Whichrests upon the upper endof the pivotmember, l2. 1 The lower edge'of theclgsure l3entendsclosely adjacent. the Ineetingiedgebetween/the skirt 1 .7 and. cylindrical portion 8 of v the supporting member.- The; screw 1'5..is threaded into the upper endofthe pivot member .12 formingan upward extension of that iniemberi'and passing through acentraliopening-in the; closure 13. The coil spring 16 surrounds the shaft of the screw 15 bearing at one end against the underside of the enlarged head of the screw and at the other end upon. the inturned flange l tof-zthe closure. The. central opening inthe closure 13; is

made of such size as to afford adequate clearancebetween' it and the shaft of the screw 15 so that the closure may be tilted to a posit-ionsuch as that in which it is. shown in Figure 3.' The spring '16 aids in returning' the closure to the closed position and also practically eliminates swingingof the closure beyond the closed position. It is obvious, however, that the closure will return by. gravity to the closed position without the assistance of the spring. v

The closure being balanced upon its central support may be readily displaced with but slight pressure in orderz-to clear-a substantial portion of the-upper opening of the receptacle for the introduction of matter therein. This introduction may take place from any direction which feature is of considerable importance in permitting a receptacle closure of this construction tobe used in any"location. 4

The closure and its supporting-member havebeen shown asiformed separately from the receptacle. properl. and when so "formed obviously the supporting member "6 as'well as the closure may be removed when-emptying the receptacle. Also the closure assembly is itselfindependent ohthe' receptacle and may be readily removed from a filled receptacle and placedupon zan empty one whereupon the fil-led receptacle simay be 'closed' by any usual type of :cover and "removed. 1

We have illustrated'one preferred embodiment of our invention -which -is'obviously capable of modificationtomeet-varying conditions. It is our intentiom to cover *such modifications as come within t-l1e*-scope of the appended claims.

1..-In -a receptacle closure, "supporting means, -a' closure member'-supported'thiereon and adapted for universal movementrelative to" the support, aIida SPriIig engaging the closure and adapted" to} resist movement thereoffrom the normal positionp I "2.*In a receptacle closure, -='sup orting means, a closure'member'su'pported thereon and adapted for universal movement relative to the support, *a-rid a {spring engaging the closure ad-j acent 'its pointof engagement with the=supportand adapted to-resist movement thereof from the normalfpositi'on.

"-3. In a' receptacle closure, a'verticallyextending pivot, a conical closure member having 'its'upper portion resting on said pivot and adapted' for universal movement relativeto said pivot, =and springmeans carried by the pivot andengaging; the closure member to "resist I di'sp'lacemei'it of the closure member from normal position.

4. .111 a' receptacle closure, a pivot memher having a-seat thereonaa' reduced portion extending above the seat, and a closure fitted on said seat and =l'1aving"an opening permitting passage of the "reduced portion of the pivot member, the opening providing clearance between the closure and "reduced portion suflicient to 1 permit universal tiilting of the closure 'relative to' the pivot."

5. In a receptacle closure, apivotmemher having a seat thereon,'a reduced'portion extending above the seat-and a=0losure fitte'd on said seat and having an opening-permitting passage of the reduced' ortion' of the pivot member, an enlarged 'head on-sa-i'd' reduced portion and aspring encircling the reduced :portion "between 'the head and closure member and serving-to yieldin'gly resist displacement of the-closure member.

6. In a receptacle closure, a Ipivot"member having a seat thereon, and a closure member having a downwardly extending body-portion,-"-a -central opening, and an inturned downwardly extending flange surrounding said opening and. adapted .to .en-

Igae thepivot'seat andmakeline contact therewith.

7. In-a receptacle closure, a pivot member having a seat thereon, a closure mem- .=berhavirng a downwardly-extending body portion, a central opening, and an inturned downwardly extendingifiange surrounding said opening and ada ted rto engage the pivot seat andzmake: line contact therewith, an upwardly extendinglmember carried by the pivot extending through the vclosure opening, and a.- spring carried by: said member andseate'don the int-urned closure flange and "adapted to yieldingly resist displace ment ofitheclosure. v

:8. :AI closure. i assembly comprising a r supporting member adapted toi'be:-seated1rupon the upper-edgeofan open topped receptacle, the member :comprisinga tubular portion extending =with-in 2 the 'rreceptacle, and a skirt portion overhanging the .i'receptacle edge,aa spider :extending transversely- 0f the opening of the tubularno'rtion, a; pivot member extending vertically l-upwar'd from -1 the- :central portion -of --the, spider, and a i closure member supported :on said vot tin; such manneriasto normally close the opening and to be movable -i1n-any direction uponthe pivot to' cleara; portion of the.opening,-and a:springoarriedtby the pivot membermn-rl engaging theiclosuremember to yieldingly maintain it in closed position.

9.-A closure assembly comprising a supporting fmember adapted to be seated upon the uppene'dge of an open topped receptacle, the member comprising a tubular portion extending within-the receptacle, and a' skirt portion overhanging' the receptacle edge, a spider extending transversely of the openingof the tubular portion,a pivot member extending vertically upward fromthe central portion of the spider, and a closure member. supportedon said pi'vot'in such manner as t-o normally .olose the opening and to be movable in any directionwupon the-pivotr to clear 'a; portion of the opening, the closurehhavinga .central perforation, a portion of the ivotmemberextending upwardly through said perforation, and a springcarried the upwardly extending PlVOtlPOItlOIl and engaging the upper. face of the closure member to yieldingly :maintain it in =closed,position. 4

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 10th day of. April. 1923. 

